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Wow! Nevada upsets Boise State in OT

Nov 27, 2010 - 9:08 AM Reno, NV (Sports Network) - So much for Boise State crashing the BCS national title game.

The No. 19 Nevada Wolf Pack (11-1, 6-1 WAC) rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit, survived a missed chip shot from Kyle Brotzman at the end of regulation and miraculously pulled off the biggest win in program history, 34-31, on Anthony Martinez's 34-yard field goal in overtime.

"I'm so proud of this football team...It is the greatest victory this university has ever had," Nevada head coach Chris Ault said. "It was pretty special."

The third-ranked Broncos (10-1, 6-1) had a chance to stay undefeated and remain in the title hunt after Titus Young made a sensational 53-yard catch down to the nine-yard line with two seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, but Brotzman pushed his 26-yard field goal try wide right.

Boise State got the ball first in the extra session and gained the Nevada eight-yard line before moving back four yards.

Brotzman was called on again and hooked a 29-yarder wide left.

Four plays later, Martinez split the uprights on his try, and Mackay Stadium erupted into a frenzy.

The stunner snapped Boise State's winning streak at 24 -- ending its title hopes -- and gave the Wolf Pack their first win over the Broncos in 11 games since 1998.

Colin Kaepernick passed for 259 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Wolf Pack. He completed 19-of-35 throws, finding Rishard Matthews 10 times for 172 yards and a score.

Matthews also had a 44-yard TD run, while Vai Taua logged 131 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries in Nevada's fifth consecutive win following its lone loss to Hawaii.

Kellen Moore had another solid game under center for Boise State, completing 20-of-31 passes for 348 yards with two TDs. Doug Martin gained 230 total yards and scored three times for the Broncos, who were No. 3 in the BCS standings this week.

The day was a roller coaster for Broncos fans, as the two teams ahead of them in the standings -- Oregon and Auburn -- both trailed at halftime before pulling off victories against Arizona and Alabama, respectively.

Though the chance to move into one of the two enviable spots fell by the wayside, Boise State still appeared ready to head into its season finale undefeated after leading 24-7 at halftime.

Things changed quickly in the third quarter, however, as Nevada forced Boise State's first punt of the game on the opening possession of the second half.

The Wolf Pack failed to cut in the deficit on the next series, as Martinez's 35-yard field goal was blocked.

Nevada continued to hold on defense, and Kaepernick ran for an 18-yard touchdown to make it a 10-point game, 24-14, with 1:23 to go of the third.

It got closer early in the fourth when Matthews took an end around, split a trio of defenders and was able to shake off a big hit on his way to a 44-yard touchdown and a 24-21 contest with 13 minutes remaining.

For the second straight series, the explosive Broncos failed to gain a first down, and Nevada moved the ball from its own seven into the red zone. The Wolf Pack had 1st-and-goal from the eight-yard line, but moved only two yards before Martinez came in and tied the game with a 23-yard kick.

The crowd went from raucous to silent in one play when Martin took a screen pass over the middle, followed his blockers up the left sideline and made a defender miss near midfield on his way to a 79-yard score with 4:53 on the clock.

The hosts responded, going 79 yards in 14 plays to tie the game in the closing seconds, with Kaepernick finding Matthews on a seven-yard out route with 13 ticks showing, plenty of time for unforeseen fireworks.

Young returned the squib kick 22 yards to his own 38, then made a sensational, fully-extended catch of 79 yards down to the Nevada nine-yard that left two seconds on the clock.

But all it did was set the stage for Brotzman's unforgettable miss.

"One play can win a game but one play can't lose it," Boise Statue head coach Chris Petersen said. "There's a lot of plays to be made that we didn't make for whatever reason."

Kaepernick was intercepted deep in Boise State territory on the game's first possession, and the Broncos converted the turnover into a 33-yard Brotzman field goal for the only points in the opening stanza.

Boise State scored again on a 13-play, 87-yard march spanning the first and second quarter, as Martin went in from four yards out for a 10-0 lead.

The Broncos padded the lead when Young hauled in a 26-yard pass from Moore in the left corner of the end zone with less than six minutes remaining in the half.

Taua scored on a five-yard run, but Martin answered with a 51-yard scoring run for a 24-7 halftime cushion.

Game Notes

Both teams sit atop the WAC with Hawaii...This was the first ever matchup of ranked teams in Mackay Stadium history...Nevada has won 12 straight at home, while Boise State had its 16- game road winning streak stopped...Kaepernick had 45 rushing yards and became the first player to have three seasons of 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing...Kaepernick and Taua also set an NCAA record for most yards gained by two players in their career, breaking the mark set by Eric Dickerson and Craig James (8,192) at SMU from 1979-82...Nevada ends its regular season at Louisiana Tech next Saturday, while Boise State hosts Utah State.